Garment apparatus for delivering or receiving electric impulses

Abstract

A garment containing multiple conductive paths made of conductive cloth is used to connect an external electrical apparatus to various points on the skin of the wearer. The garment can be designed for electrical monitoring of sites or electrical stimulation. Designated sites on the garment can be activated by soaking the site with conducting fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A garment apparatus for delivering or receiving electric impulses comprising: a garment made of non-electrically conducting web material having small interstices;   at least one thin electrode element, said electrode element having an orifice therethrough and being secured to said garment externally thereof in a manner to overlie a portion of said garment;   at least one electrically conducting elongate pathway, one end of said pathway adapted and constructed to be in selective electrical contact with electrical impulse supplying means or electrical sensing means, the said pathway being positioned with respect to the electrode element such that a portion of the said pathway is in electrical contact with said electrode element when said garment apparatus is in use;   the electrode element being secured to said garment permitting a space to be defined between said electrode element and that portion of the garment over which said electrode element overlies said garment;   the said orifice of said electrode element adapted and constructed to permit the introduction of electrolytic fluid-like material therethrough whereby said fluid-like material may be introduced into said space;   the said small interstices of said garment being sufficiently large to permit the said fluid-like material to penetrate therethrough whereby the skin of a patient is wetted by said fluid-like material when said garment is worn to thereby complete the electrical connection between said electrode element and the skin of the patient.   
     
     
       2. The garment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode element has a disk-like configuration. 
     
     
       3. The garment apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrode element is flexible. 
     
     
       4. The garment apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electrode element is secured along its peripheral portion to the garment. 
     
     
       5. The garment apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrically conducting pathway is adhered to the garment. 
     
     
       6. The garment apparatus of claim 5 wherein the electrically conducting pathway is insulated. 
     
     
       7. The garment apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electrically conducting pathway is in the form of a flexible ribbon. 
     
     
       8. The garment apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electrically conducting pathway is adhered to the garment by being sewn thereto. 
     
     
       9. The garment apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrode element is constructed of the same material as the pathway. 
     
     
       10. The garment apparatus of claim 9 wherein the pathway makes serial contact with a plurality of electrode elements. 
     
     
       11. The garment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the garment is constructed of woven material. 
     
     
       12. The garment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the garment is constructed of non-woven material. 
     
     
       13. An electrode assembly for delivering or receiving electric impulses to or from the skin of a living body comprising: a non-electrical conducting web material having small interstices;   a thin flexible electrode element, said electrode element having an orifice therethrough and being secured peripherally to said web material in confronting relationship permitting a space to be defined between said electrode element and said web material;   said orifice of said electrode element adapted and constructed to permit the introduction of electrolytic fluid-like material therethrough whereby said fluid-like material may be introduced into said space;   said small interstices of said web material being sufficiently large to permit the said fluid-like material to penetrate therethrough whereby the skin of a patient is wetted by said fluid-like material when said electrode assembly is used to thereby complete the electrical connection between said electrode element and the skin of the patient.   
     
     
       14. The electrode assembly of claim 13 wherein the electrode element has a disk-like configuration. 
     
     
       15. The electrode assembly of claim 13 wherein the web material is woven. 
     
     
       16. The electrode assembly of claim 13 wherein the web material is non-woven. 
     
     
       17. A method of delivering electrical stimuli to the skin of a living body comprising the steps of: putting a garment apparatus on the body, said garment made of non-electrical conducting web material having small interstices, at least one thin electrode element, said electrode element having an orifice therethrough and being secured to said garment externally thereof in a manner to overlie a portion of said garment, at least one electrically conducting elongate pathway, one end of said pathway adapted and constructed to be in selective electrical contact with electrical impulses supplying means, the said pathway being positioned with respect to the electrode element such that a portion of the said pathway is in electrical contact with said electrode element when said garment apparatus is in use the electrode element being secured to said garment permitting a space to be defined between said electrode element and that portion of the garment over which said electrode element overlies said garment, the said orifice of said electrode element adapted and constructed to permit the introduction of electrolytic fluid-like material therethrough whereby said fluid-like material may be introduced into said space, the said small interstices of said garment being sufficiently large to permit the said fluid-like material to penetrate therethrough whereby when said garment is worn to thereby complete the electrical connection between said electrode element and the skin of the patient;   connecting electrical stimulation means to said electrically conducting elongate pathway;   activating said electrode element by introducing electrolytic fluid-like material through the orifice of the said electrode element;   supplying electrical energy to said electrical stimulation means, and   electrically operating said electrical stimulation means.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein the garment apparatus used in the step of putting on the garment apparatus is provided with a plurality of electrode elements and a plurality of electrically conducting elongate pathways, the method further comprising the additional step of selecting electrically conducting elongate pathways and the electrode elements to be used. 
     
     
       19. A method of delivering electrical stimuli to the skin of a living body comprising the steps of: putting an apparatus on the body, made of non-electrical conducting web material having small interstices, at least one thin flexible electrode element, said electrode element having an orifice therethrough and being secured to said apparatus externally thereof in a manner to overlie a portion of said web material, at least one electrically conducting elongate pathway, one end of said pathway adapted and constructed to be in selective electrical contact with electrical impulse supplying means, the said pathway being positioned with respect to the electrode element such that a portion of the said pathway is in electrical contact with said electrode element when said apparatus is in use, the electrode element being secured to said web material permitting a space to be defined between said electrode element and that portion of the web material over which said electrode element overlies said web material, the said orifice of said electrode element adapted and constructed to permit the introduction of electrolytic fluid-like material therethrough whereby said fluid-like material may be introduced into said space, the said small interstices of said web material being sufficiently large to permit the said fluid-like material to penetrate therethrough whereby the skin of a patient is wetted by said fluid-like material wherein said web material is worn to thereby complete the electrical connection between said electrode element and the skin of the patient;   connecting electrical stimulation means to said electrically conducting elongate pathway;   activating said electrode element by introducing electrolytic fluid-like material through the orifice of the said electrode element;   supplying electrical energy to said electrical stimulation means, and   electrically operating said electrical stimulation means.   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein the apparatus used in the step of putting on the apparatus is provided with a plurality of electrode elements and a plurality of electrically conducting elongate pathways, the method further comprising the additional step of selecting electrically conducting elongate pathways and the electrode elements to be used.